What is Internet Connection Aggregation?

Aggregation has a major impact on the speed and usability of the Internet connection. Even so, most common users have no idea what this term means. See how aggregation works.

I share, you share, we share

Aggregation represents an important parameter of the Internet connection, which expresses the number of the maximum number of users who can share the reserved speed at one time. Sharing the data flow is a common practice in the case of the Internet at home, which will not surprise you if you find out something about aggregation in advance and count on it.

Internet aggregation in practice

The value of Internet aggregation is given as a ratio, where the second number represents the maximum number of people with whom you share the line. To better understand how it works, let’s use a concrete example. Aggregation 1:50 for a 100 Mbps line means that the connection speed will be from 2 to 100 Mbps, because one user shares one line with up to 50 other users. The advantage of aggregation is that it reduces the price of an Internet connection and distributes its capacity fairly among given users. However, it may happen that if many users are connected and the line capacity is maximally used, the data transfer speed will decrease.

Aggregation is highest during peak hours

It follows from the above that you will enjoy the fastest internet at times when the least number of users use the line. On the contrary, during peak hours, which usually occurs between 7 and 9 p.m. for home internet, you will be sharing capacity with other users. It is thus worth planning data-intensive activities for off-peak times.

It is certainly important to mention that a fast enough internet connection line can offer comfortable surfing even to a larger number of users. Although the aggregation ratio remains the same, the connection speed is constantly changing based on what other users are doing. Watching HD videos and downloading large files are among the most data-intensive without a doubt.

Where to find information about aggregation?

The value of data aggregation cannot be easily measured and is not even listed on the router. You will find out from the contract with the internet provider. All optical Internet tariffs are offered with a sympathetic aggregation of 1:10. You can thus share the capacity of the data connection with only ten users. It should be noted that aggregation does not always have to be applied. Sometimes the maximum number of users is not filled even in the mentioned peak. After all, the average user does not use the line without a break. In the end, everything depends only on the circumstances and the provider.

Data aggregation and slow internet

Sharing the data stream with other users reduces the speed of the Internet connection. If you are not satisfied with the data aggregation with the existing provider, it makes sense to look around among the offer of introducing optical cables from LOSKA. Aggregation 1:10 at a maximum speed of up to 400 Mbps still brings maximum comfortable surfing and sufficient speed for all Internet activities. All this regardless of when you choose to open the browser.